For as long as I can remember, I have heard the narrative that there is something inherently anti-Christian about academia (despite the Christian roots of many of the United States’ early universities). There was a general sentiment that the faculty of secular colleges and universities would systematically try to undermine Christian beliefs found in their students.
I did not find my own experience to support this as I completed my undergraduate and master’s degrees at public universities, but neither did I encounter faculty who openly identified as Christian. Even as I began my doctoral program, I did not anticipate being employed in academia. However, I quickly grew to love conducting research studies, analyzing data, and writing and saw a clear path to continue this work in a university setting. I also had the benefit of being exposed to faculty who openly shared their Christian faith. However, this was at a private Christian university, and I was left with the vague impression that maybe the few Christian faculty were relegated to these settings.
When I accepted a tenure-track Assistant Professor position at a public R1 research institution, I began to think more deeply about how my Christian faith should inform my work in this setting. Over my first few years as a professor, I sought out resources that would help me understand the integration of these areas of my life. Some general resources describing our faith and work were immensely helpful. However, I needed to hear from others in academia to have other examples and perspectives to help shape my view of my work.
Below are some of the resources I have found helpful as I seek to live out my Christian faith as a professor in academia. Additionally, involvement in my local church has been a strong encouragement, as it exposes me to others from the university who are working out what it means to honor God in their academic employment.
A Grander Story: An Invitation to Christian Professors (book of essays edited by Rick Hove and Dr. Heather Holleman)
The Two Tasks of the Christian Scholar (book of essays edited by William Lane Craig and Paul M. Gould).
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